Deuteronomy 15:1-11, Acts 4:32-37 How Christians Are to Serve Others

The readings from Deuteronomy 15:1-11 and Acts 4:32-37 talk about how the Christian community is supposed to act. The events in the reading from Acts take place immediately after the coming of the Holy Spirit. The people had an uncommon experience of the life and death of Jesus and they met to talk about what these events meant. As they witnessed to each other, the power of the Holy Spirit came into them and sent them out  to witness before the world. This witnessing included serving the poor just like Jesus did. It became the mission of the early church. The power of the resurrection commanded such a consuming loyalty that people gave everything they had to the church and its mission, thereby welding their future to that of the church.

Both Moses and Jesus told us that the poor will always be with us. Consequently, we must always be generous. As children of the one true God-who loves to provide everything  we need-the Lord encourages us to give generously to the poor. He blesses us so we can bless others.

In Deuteronomy 15:1-11, Moses taught that helping the poor is an issue of the heart. In Moses' mind, an open heart led to an open hand. Jesus also stated that wherever our treasures are, there our hearts will be. Moses stated that because the poor will always be with us, they will always need help from the wealthy, and the needs of the poor are to be met gladly and generously.

That did not meant that there would be free handouts to anyone who wanted them. The poor generally had to work for their keep. In this way they kept a sense of dignity and kept their work habits intact. The laws requiring landowners not to harvest all their grain-to ;eave grain and dropped bundles of harvest, as well as grapes on the vine and olives in the tree-allowed the poor to have something to glean and thus, through honest labour, to provide for their needs. After all, the land belonged to God, as did all the harvest he provided.  

The covenant laws regarding poverty were so extensive that obedience to them would eventually root out poverty. What if our society followed these laws? Wouldn't other nations think our way of ordering society was best? Justice is seen in the way a nation treats its weakest members. Think of how an attitude like this would impact our churches. Infighting would stop, and rumours would end. Vision would move from paper to practice. Needs would be met. Spiritual gifts would be exercised. Our communities would see that God is doing powerful work among his people.

In Old Testament times, every seventh year was to be a jubilee year. During jubilee years, debts were to be forgiven,  servants were to be set free and fields were to be left unplanted. It was assumed that debtors were poor Israelites who borrowed money to feed their families. Jubilee years proclaimed God's grace. The Israelites had the view that the poor were to be given whatever they needed, even though such "loans" would never need to be paid back. Their attitude was one of warmth and generosity, especially with the realization that there would always be poor people in Israel.

Do we have a similar attitude today? When do we look at the poor through God's eyes? When do those who have plenty make sacrifices that really cost something? Moses told the Israelites to open their hands wide to the poor, and God expects us to do the same. When we do, God will bless us. If we give merely to get a blessing, that is the wrong motive. We have to give in order to be a blessing, and if we are a blessing to others, God will bless us.

A closed hand is a grasping hand or a fist. It turns inward. It also represents an attitude of calculation. The wealthy in Israel were not to hold back on lending to the poor, especially as the jubilee year drew near. Instead, they were to give generously. Then they would honour God and be blessed.

An open hand is an offering hand. It says, "Welcome!". It lets go of hostilities and is open to receiving whatever other people offer. We receive with open hands from our Creator and Sustainer, and we openly offer to others what we have received.

The audience in the reading from Acts is a good example of what the Christian community should be-a serving community. They shared what they had, thereby following the old saying, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need". We are called to minister to the needy, because when we look at the needy, we see the face of God. Until Christianity began, the poor were thought of as victims of cruel destiny.  

The Gospel is for needy people-people like us because we are all needy people. We are all needy in some form or another. We look at people who seem calm and collected on the outside, but if we look deeper, we can see marriages that are in trouble, parents concerned about rebellious children, or people who are lonely or hurting. Christ died to serve the needy, and he calls on all of us to serve the needy as well. We are the eyes, ears, hands and feet of Christ in our world.

We have to find the needy souls and show them Christ's love. The Christian ideal of serving the needy conflicts with today's reality. In our modern, financially-blessed culture, so many people are living in financial and spiritual poverty. It affects their families, their relationships and their service to God. Concern for the poor conflicts with our modern, get-rich-quick-at-all-costs world. Our world places some people above others. The Christian ideal treats everyone equally. Christians lead by example, not by lording over others. We serve others, others do not serve us. We get our hands dirty.

It will be hard for us to share what we have, but God calls on each of us to share what we have, because what we have belongs to God. He lends us what we have so that we can use these things to do his work in our world. To get far in God's service, we need God's grace.

We need to be like the young boy who stared intently through the windows of a Cadillac car. The owner wondered what the boy, so he put his hands on the boy's shoulders and asked him what he was doing. The boy said he was interested in cars and had read a lot about different models. The owner talked with the boy for awhile and explained to him the details about this particular model and style.

After a little while, the boy asked, "Mister, how much did you pay for this car?" The man replied, "Nothing. My brother gave it to me." The boy responded, "I wish..." but stopped without finishing. The man chuckled, "You were going to say, 'I wish I had a brother like that.'"

The boy replied, "No, I was going to say, 'I wish I could be a brother like that." You see, sir, I have a brother who is crippled and I'd like to do a lot of things for him."  

Instead, are we like the famous miser who was called on by the chairperson of the community charity? "Sir," the fund-raiser said, "our records show that despite your wealth, you've never once given to our drive."

The tightwad replied, "Do your records show that I have an elderly mother who was left penniless when my father died? Do your records show that I have a disabled brother who is unable to work? Do your records show that I have a widowed sister with small children who can barely make ends meet?"

"No, sir", replied the fund-raiser. "Our records don't show those things."

"Well, I don't give to any of them, so why should I give anything to you?"

Where are our hearts? Are they with the boy, or are they with the miser? We need to redirect our culture away from ourselves to the needs of others and the glory of God. Culture must not be used merely for self-interest. The early Christians understood this. They realized that their possessions were not to be held on to. They gave up their goods as needed to meet the needs of the community as a whole. They used the cultural resources at their disposal became powerful tools for expressing God's love. among them and the surrounding community. They showed us the way. They showed us how to treat others and to love God. Are we prepared to follow their example?

Bibliography

      1.            Stanley, C.F., The Charles F,. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.; 2009)

      2.            Donald MacLeod, "Beginning With Easter-Then What?" Retrieved from www.esermons.com

      3.            Maxwell, J.C. & Ogilvie, L.J., The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 5, Deuteronomy (Nashville, TN; Thomas Nelson, Inc.; 1987)

      4.            Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson; 1994)

      5.            MacArthur, J.F. Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)

      6.            Radmacher, E.D.; Allen, R.B.; & House, H.W.; Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Nelson Publishers; 1999)

      7.            Berni Dymet, "Poor Me". Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

      8.            Les Lamborn, "Open-Handed Help". Retrieved from noreply@rbc.org

      9.            Rick Warren, "Living a Life of Generosity". Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com

  10.            Kent Van Til, "If You Obey, There Should Be No Poor". Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net

  11.            Kent Van Til, "Being Open-Handed". Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net.

  12.            T.M. Moore, "Distributive Justice". Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org

  13.            King Duncan, Needy People Please Apply". Retrieved from www.esermons.com

  14.            Paul W. Kummer, "Open Grave, Open Hearts". Retrieved from www.esermons.com

  15.            Richard E. Gribble, "Teammates in the Cause of the Lord". Retrieved from www.esermons.com

  16.            T.M. Moore, "Redirect". Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org

  17.            Ron Moore, "The Generous Gift of Community". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

  18.            Dr. Jack Graham, "How to Survive Success". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

  19.            Roland McGregor, McGregorPage #813, Easter 2, 4/15/12. Retrieved from mcgregorpage@mcgregorpage.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genesis 15:1-12,17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 Nothing Can Stop Jesus Now!

A certain woman came to the pastor of a church out in West Texas. She asked if she could be a part of the Bible Study he was teaching. He gladly agreed, which eventually resulted in the woman's salvation. Curious, the preacher asked the woman what prompted her to come in and study the Bible. She told the elder that over a year ago her three-year old son was hit by a car and was critically injured and it was touch and go for a while. During that time, her next-door neighbour, who was a member of this particular church, was exceedingly helpful.

She took care of the mother's other son. She cooked dinner for the family, she did her shopping, she cleaned the house, washed the laundry. She did all of that without a single complaint or asking for anything in return. The lady continued by saying that she knew her neighbour had something that she did not have. She knew that she was a member of this church but that's all that she knew about her.

This neighbour was always friendly and invited the mother to church. But prior to her son's accident, this Mom had nothing to do with the other woman. That was because Her mother told her that members of the church were judgmental, rude, and obnoxious toward anyone who was not a member of the church.

She concluded tearfully that her neighbour was nothing like she had been taught. But instead her neighbour was just the opposite. While her son was in the hospital, her neighbour encouraged her to read the Bible. In time she began reading the Bible and she soon discovered that her neighbour had something that she did not have and that was a caring Saviour named Jesus Christ.

The portion of Luke's Gospel that we heard this morning takes place in the middle of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. At this point, nothing will stop him, not even threats. These threats are seen by most Biblical scholars as being an honest warning. Not all Pharisees were opposed to Jesus, For example, Joseph of Arimithea and Nicodemus, the two men who buried Jesus after his crucifixion, were both Pharisees and secret followers of Jesus. Jesus had work to do, and he would not be deterred.

Herod Antipas was very subtle and sneaky. He used stealth to subdue his enemies. For example, he had John the Baptist beheaded because he made a foolish promise to his stepdaughter Salome in the heat of the moment at his birthday party. All told, he was like a fox. Those of you who know anything about farming know that foxes sneak into barns and chicken coops at night to prey on defenceless animals. The kingdom of God which Jesus came to preach and live was at odds with the entire political system in which Herod Antipas functioned. The two systems could not coexist in harmony. After all, what could Jesus say to someone who beheaded John the Baptist?

Like Jesus, the apostle Paul had a mission, and nothing would stop him. He actually had two missions in his life, and each case nothing would stop him. His first mission was to persecute Christians, and nothing stopped him until he had the famous encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. That encounter led to his second mission, which Paul described as "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus". He eagerly followed Christ's commission to all of us-namely, to go forth into the world and spread the Good News of Salvation.

Jesus' work was to restore our relationship with God. Unfortunately, his work would not be entirely successful, as his lament over Jerusalem showed. It was God's genuine grief over the hardness of the hearts of the people of Jerusalem-the same people who would eventually crucify Jesus. In spite of Satan's control over the people of Jerusalem, God was still available to help them. All they had to do was turn to him in faith.  

Jesus wants to restore the covenant God made with Abraham, which we heard in the reading from Genesis earlier in the service. Jesus wants us to imitate him. There is the old adage that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. We are creatures of conformity, and Jesus wants us to conform to the way of life that he offers to us. When we imitate Christ, others will want to imitate us. We imitate Christ when we love others as Christ loved us. When we imitate Christ, we imitate God. Jesus demonstrated what it means to be fully human-to be right with God, filled with the Holy Spirit. When we meet the needs of others, we meet Jesus.

By being determined to go to Jerusalem in spite of warnings, Jesus put evil forces on notice. Jerusalem was the scene of the death of many of the Old Testament population. Jerusalem had persecuted and killed prophets not out of ignorance. It was not because they had been given only one chance and they blew it. The people set aside God in favour of man-made rules. They would not see any of God's blessings until they accepted Jesus as the Messiah.

In verse 35, Jesus was not referring to the words people will shout in Palm Sunday. Instead, they refer to his Second Coming. By that time Israel will have turned to God in faith or have been forced to acknowledge him on Judgment Day. In the later case, it will be too late. Jesus wanted the Israelites to seek shelter under his protection, and he wants us to seek his protection as well. Do we want him to protect us? Do we want to persevere in spite of obstacles like Jesus did?  

As Christians, we have dual citizenship. We are both citizens of the world and citizens of heaven. We must not allow our worldly citizenship to corrupt our heavenly citizenship, but we must allow our heavenly citizenship to influence our earthly citizenship. Paul said in Philippians 3:20-21 that we can live in great expectation of Christ. We live in expectation by living as Christ lived-as a humble servant in faith.  In other words, we can stand fast in faith, and we stand in faith when we worship Jesus and when we do his work in our world. When we gather together in worship and service, we encourage and help each other, and we hold each other accountable for our actions.

Paul contrasts the two kinds of citizenship. The citizens of the world are destined to destruction. Their god is their stomach. In other words, they are concerned with material things. Finally, their glory is in their shame.

Because we have dual citizenship, we will experience tension and temptations. We have to remain close to Jesus and recommit our lives to him daily. We must focus on the truth of God's word. We must be fearless in our obedience to God. In return, we have a secure hope in Jesus. We can trust that, and when we trust Jesus, we will be changed and we will be reconnected to him-and only then will Jesus' mission be accomplished.  

All of us limit God's work in our lives to some extent. Even though we are forgiven in Christ and have begun to experience the new creation through him, there are times when we resist God's transforming work in us. Jesus must accept with sadness that there are people who will not accept the kingdom. His agony over Jerusalem and its hardness of heart is the same agony he has for the hardness of hearty of those of us here in the New Jerusalem. This does not diminish the reality of his absolute sovereignty over all that happens. Jesus, then and now, is in anguish over those who cannot accept the life he is offering, who have hardened their hearts to God's plea to come into his kingdom.

Jesus was saddened by the lost condition of people, and he is still saddened by their lost condition today. We need to have the same attitude for the lost today, because they are dead in their trespasses and sin. They are cut off from God. They are trapped in a downward spiral that will lead them to an eternity in hell unless we step in and show them that God loves them.

The truth of Jesus' divine sovereignty must not be used to undermine the sincerity of his compassion. No matter what we do, God's love for us does not diminish. He is always cheering us on. He is always ready to help us. God calls on us to hear his word for our lives personally and then proclaim God's Word in our world. That was Jesus' vision as well. Jesus understood his power. He wasn't afraid of earthly kings and their power. He knew the greatest danger to his mission was not Herod Antipas or another worldly leader, but the danger of being diverted from his mission.

Lent calls us to confront those things that stand in the way of our answering God's call. We answer God's call by doing his work in our world. We can volunteer and help here in the church. We can worship and praise God. We can take part in Bible studies.  We have to ask ourselves three questions:

      1.            If we really allow God to guide our lives, what if we don't like the results?

      2.            Will God really be there to help us?

      3.            If we step our in bold faith, what if we look foolish?

Our desire for a safe, predictable, comfortable life can close our hearts to God's transforming work.

As dual citizens of heaven and earth, we can see beyond the earthly world to the heavenly world. Once we loosen the bonds of this earthly world, we can turn from earthly things that can destroy us to heavenly things that can help us and save us. We can serve as a good example for others to follow.  

Making the rounds on the internet is a list called "Ten Things God Won't Ask." When I was doing my research for this morning's homily, I came across a version by an American minister who had edited them down to eight. Here's his list, and it is a list that I agree with:

1. God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but God will ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.
2. God won't ask the square footage of your house, but God will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but God will ask how many you helped to clothe.
4. God won't ask what your highest salary was, but God will ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
5. God won't ask what your job title was, but God will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
6. God won't ask how many friends you had, but God will ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
7. God won't ask in what neighbourhood you lived, but God will ask how you treated your neighbours.
8. God won't ask about the color of your skin, but God will ask about the content of your character.

We have two contrasting pictures of religious zeal---Jerusalem and Jesus. Religious passion drove Jerusalem to murderous ends. Religious passion moved prophets and Jesus to fulfill God's mission at the cost of their lives. Will today's church follow the example of Jerusalem or Jesus? Will the church stand up and actively denounce the persecution of Christians around the world, or will it remain silent? Will we raise our voices in this world to defend our turf, or will we adopt the model of faithfulness to God's purposes even if it means persecution, vulnerability and suffering? We who are called to follow in Jesus' footsteps are faced with a challenge. How we respond to it will determine our eternal destiny.

Bibliography

      1.            Exegesis for Luke 13:31-35. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com.

      2.            Dan Clendenin, PhD, "Don't Fear the Thief". Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net

      3.            The Rev. Dr. James D. Kegel, "Just Do It". Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

      4.            Pastor Daniel W. Brettell, "Challenging the Foxes in Life". Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

      5.            Mark D. Roberts, "How Are You Limiting God's Work in Your Life?" Retrieved from Newsletter@TheHighCalling.org

      6.            T.M. Moore, "The Plight of the Lost". Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org

      7.            Larson, B., & Ogilvie, L.J., The Preacher's Commentary Series: Volume 23: Luke(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)

      8.            MacArthur, J.F. Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

      9.            Swindoll, Charles R.; Swindoll's New Testament Insights; Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2012)

  10.            Exegesis for Genesis 15:1-12,17-18. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

  11.            Dr. Mickey Anders, "Doppelganger Work" Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.

  12.            Leonard Sweet, "Greeting and Meeting Jesus". Retrieved from www.esermons.com

  13.            Billy D. Strayhorn, "Digging Deeper". Retrieved from www.esermons.com

  14.            King Duncan, "Where is Your Citizenship?". Retrieved from www.esermons.com

  15.            King Duncan, "Starting Toward a Great Tomorrow". Retrieved from www.esermons.com

  16.            Pastor Joe McKeever, "Getting Comfortable". Retrieved from www.joemckeever.com

  17.            Max Lucado, "The Brand New You". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

  18.            Dr. Charles Stanley, "Understanding the World Order". Retrieved from In_Touch_with_Dr_Charles_Stanley@crosswalkmail.com

 

 

 

Luke 13:31-35 The Heavenly Miracle Worker Still Works Miracles Today

Good morning boys and girls!

Have your parents ever told you not to do anything or that you couldn't go someplace where you really wanted to go?

Well, Jesus certainly knows the feeling. The same situation happened to Jesus in today's Gospel reading. Some people tried to tell him to leave because his life was in danger, but Jesus refused to listen to them. He continued his work, including healings and miracles. He's still performing healings and miracles today. I know, because I'm speaking from personal experience. Let me explain.

My mother very rarely misses church on Sundays, especially when I'm preaching. Unfortunately, she's not here with me today, and it's for a very good reason. This past week she had a very serious operation called a knee replacement. That's an operation where the doctor puts you to sleep, removes a badly damaged knee and replaces it with a new one that is made out of either porcelain or metal.

I took her to the hospital and I waited for several hours while she had the operation. While I was waiting, I prayed several times for God to watch over my mother. I also prayed for a successful operation and for the doctors and nurses who were operating on my mother, especially since she is elderly and has several health problems. I asked him to watch over everyone and to keep my mother safe.

I'm pleased to tell you that God answered my prayers. He healed my mother by making sure that the operation would be a successful one. She is well on her way to getting better, but she has a long road to travel because it will take some time for her to completely recover. She will be coming home from the hospital sometime within the next few days, but she will have to have physical therapy for several weeks so she can learn how to use her new knee.

So you see boys and girls, Jesus is still hard at work in our lives today. He refuses to listen to people who want him to stop doing his work. He gave us the miracles of modern medicine that helped the doctors and nurses heal my mother. He is still busy answering prayers and performing healings today....and I for one am certainly grateful that he is.

Let us bow our heads and close our eyes for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for your love. Thank you for your healing powers and miracles. Thank you for the doctors and nurses who take care of us when we are hurt or sick. Help us to care for others like you care for us. We ask this in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Luke 21:5-19 Things Aren’t Always What They Seem To Be

Two gas company servicemen, a senior training supervisor and a young trainee, were out checking meters in a suburban neighborhood. They parked their truck at the end of the alley and worked their way to the other end. At the last house a woman looking out her kitchen window watched the two men as they checked her gas meter.

After they finished checking the meter, the senior supervisor challenged his younger co-worker to a foot race down the alley back to the truck to prove that an older guy could outrun a younger one.  As they came running up to the truck, they realized the lady from that last house was huffing and puffing right behind them. They stopped and asked her what was wrong. Gasping for breath, she replied, "When I see two gas men running as hard as you two were, I figured I'd better run too!"  

This little story and our Gospel reading from Luke this morning are both examples of the old adage that things are not always what they seem to be. When the disciples saw Herod’s temple, they saw its external beauty, but they failed to see what was really behind it-spiritual bankruptcy, hypocrisy, oppression, rejection of Christ and the Gospel, and Christ’s impending death at the hands of the religious authorities.

That’s why Jesus warned the disciples to beware of the false teachers who would come and proclaim that they were the promised Messiah. He knew that just like the temple’s beauty hid its ugly secrets, the false teachers with their appearances, methods and teachings would hide their true motives. False teachers exist in our society today. This can best be explained with another story. It is a comedy routine that I heard several years ago. In this routine, comedian Steve Martin is doing his imitation of a preacher. Part of the routine goes like this:

“The other day I talked to God, and he promised me that he would not talk to any other TV preachers. So if you hear any of those other TV preachers saying that they talked to God, do not send them the $1.50 for their polyester prayer handkerchief” 

It is somewhat ironic though that on the Vision TV channel here in Canada you can actually see on Sunday afternoon an evangelist who actually DOES send people a Prosperity Prayer handkerchief. He claims that he personally blesses each handkerchief, and that if you call and ask for one of these handkerchiefs, you will be blessed financially, health-wise, etc. This particular evangelist along with other evangelists such as Benny Hinn promotes what is known as the Prosperity Gospel. It is the belief that God intends his followers to prosper in a materialistic way. Instead of talking about mansions in heaven, they talk about mansions here on earth. They do not tell their followers that Christ expects them to take up their cross and follow him, and their religion bears little resemblance to Jesus and his teachings, especially his teachings about being persecuted for following him.

Not all false prophets are religious. Some of them promote get-rich-quick schemes and preach a gospel of stocks, bonds and real estate. Some of you might have heard of the Bernie Madoff saga. He was the mastermind of a scheme that defrauded thousands of investors of billions of dollars. Unfortunately, there are all kinds of schemers out there, especially schemers who will prey on the elderly and the less fortunate in society.

Jesus does not promise us a rose garden here on earth. In fact, he makes it quite clear to us and his disciples that people will hate them and persecute them. He doesn’t tell the disciples that they will escape pain, and he doesn’t tell us that either. He promises that the persecutions that his followers will face will give them opportunities to witness to the Gospel.

Those who do Christ’s work in the world can expect to face persecution. For example, in the Third World Christians regularly face imprisonment, threats, harassment, beatings and even death for their faith. We here in the developed world do not face these extremes, but we still face the prospect of rejection, job loss or discrimination for our faith. Thankfully, in the times of trial, we can turn to God for strength, hope and support. He will give us the strength to face adversity and persecution. He will tell us what to do, say and even think, just like he promised the disciples that he will tell them what to do, say and think.

For example, Peter and John will be arrested and use the occasion to witness to the council. This is mentioned in Acts 4:1-22. The council will be amazed at their testimony and will order them not to speak of Jesus further, but fear of the people will keep them from meting out more severe punishment. Stephen will preach a long and powerful sermon to the council in Acts 7, and it will lead to his martyrdom. Paul and Silas will be arrested and flogged, but they will sing songs of praise in prison. An earthquake will free them, but they will stay in their cells and eventually convert the jailer and his family. When the authorities try to release them, they will assert their Roman citizenship and protest their wrongful arrest, forcing the authorities to apologize. This is mentioned in Acts 16:16-40.  

When Rome destroyed the temple in 70 AD, the Jews were scattered to the four winds. They were without a homeland until the United Nations created the state of Israel in 1947. They survived and grew stronger and more resilient-just like they did during persecutions such as the Holocaust. They survived because Yahweh/God gave them strength. They were forced to take responsibility for worship wherever they happened to be. We are the same. When faced with adversity, we have a choice. We can let it beat us, or we can beat it. God will give us the strength to beat it, and in the process, we will become stronger and better Christians because of our experience.

 Some of you might have heard of an actress named Renee Russo. She is one of the most glamorous women in Hollywood, and has acted in movies with starts such as Kevin Costner, John Travolta and Mel Gibson. These things are external signs of success, but for years she did not feel successful on the inside. After she dropped out of school in her teens, she was discovered by an agent and moved to New York to model. She thought that getting jobs and recognition would make her happy, but it didn’t. They were not enough. Her low self-esteem made her feel like no amount of success was enough. She kept thinking that business success or people around her could fill the void and make her happy, but nothing did.

So she dropped out of the business, and began taking classes in theology. For four years she studied theology, and slowly she began to realize that her lack of self-esteem was caused by a lack of faith. She had been going through life without any purpose, no reason for doing the things she did. She was not aware of her gifts, and she had no set goals for her life. As she learned more about faith, she understood that every life has a purpose, and that every person has something special to contribute. Now that she has a new outlook on life, she is much better able to handle her success. She is now married and the mother of a young daughter. All these things might have been out of her reach if she had never taken the time to learn about her faith.

Renee Russo was fortunate to discover that her feelings of misery and insecurity could be used in a positive way to help her find God. That is true of every experience in life. There is a meaning to life. There is a purpose. Even more importantly, behind life there is a divine intelligence that can help us turn negatives into positives, tragedies into triumphs, heartaches into hallelujahs.  

Luke’s Gospel reading is one that fundamentalist, Bible-thumping preachers would love because it speaks of the “hell, fire and brimstone” that will occur before Christ returns. Are we in the end times today? Maybe yes, maybe no. Although Christ mentions the signs of his return, and many of these signs are around us today, many of these signs also appeared in the past.

We often want to know what the future looks like. That’s why some people resort to seeing false prophets or teachers such as psychics and fortune-tellers. We have the only true psychic and fortune teller, and his name is Jesus. In our Gospel reading, Jesus tells us and the disciples what the future will be like, and he does not pull any punches. The future will not be easy for his followers as they do his work in our world. We must make our brothers and sisters in Christ (as well as the lost) feel the real need to be a part of the worshipping community. If we are persecuted for our work, we can take comfort in the knowledge that in the end God will fashion eternity.

The work will not be easy. We will get tired. It’s hard to put others’ needs ahead of our own. It’s hard to volunteer to work at the local food bank or help with the local Christmas Cheer campaign or teach a Bible study and to keep on doing it week after week, month after month, year after year. It’s even tough for us to do the right thing in our lives when it is often easier to take shortcuts. It is at times like these when we need that vision of Christ’s return to sustain us. We get that hope and keep it alive through prayer and worship. They fill our spiritual gas tank and give us the energy to continue.

The cost of discipleship is obedience to God and imbedded in that cost is the gift of freedom. We know that the cost of work is service to us, long hours, tired bodies, weary minds. And it is all for the glory of God. And the gift imbedded in that strenuous activity is joy in the Lord. The good news is that we are all followers, not pioneers, and God holds us all close throughout all our life’s journey. We are indeed beloved and blessed.

Bibliography

 

1.      Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New American Standard Version

2.      Exegesis for Luke 21:5-19. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

3.      Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “Out of the Rubble”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

4.      The Rev. Dr. Margaret Neill, “The Joy of Struggle”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

5.      Abingdon Commentary, Luke 21:5-19. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

6.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch Bible software package

7.      Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Wordsearch Bible software package

8.      King Duncan, “Bracing for the Rough”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

9.      John Wayne Clarke, “The End of Time”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

10.  David Lenninger, “Of Rubble and Trouble”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

11.  Larry R. Kalajainen, “Not Yet Quitting Time”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

12.  Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 33^rd Sunday, Year C”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

 

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 58:1-12 The RIGHT Way to Fast for God

We all know the story of the three wise men who came to see the baby Jesus after he was born, but did you know that there is a story about a fourth wise man? The story says that he left with the other three to follow the start in search of the baby Jesus. Along the way he was constantly distracted by people who needed his help. He would send the other three ahead and catch up with them within a day or two, but when the other three reached Bethlehem , the fourth wise man was nowhere to be found.

Many years later the fourth wise man arrived in Jerusalem-three days after Jesus' crucifixion. He mourned and wept, grieving the fact that the King he had come to worship had already grown up and had been put to death. He had spent 30 years helping others in need and had missed the one person he most wanted to see.

Then something extraordinary happened. Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the fourth wise man. The wise man started to apologize for not having arrived in time to worship him at his birth. Jesus replied with words similar to these words from Matthew 25:35-36, "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.  I was a stranger, and you invited me in. I needed clothes, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you looked after me. I was in prison, and you came to visit me." 

The fast referred to in Isaiah 58:6 was supposed to bring God's people back to him in humility and repentance, but over time it became merely a ritual that the people used to show their so-called observance of God's law. In reality, the people continued to act in ungodly ways.

Worship loses its flavour when it becomes merely a ritual. When worship becomes just a ritual, or when it becomes our main focus, we end up majoring in minor things. We must observe this lesser requirement without neglecting the most important requirement-caring for others. We must turn our focus from self-centered to other-centered. The flavour is restored when we serve God by serving others. Serving others is the fast that God wants us to observe. True fasting equals true blessing, not just for us but for those we serve as well. Are we willing to make the sacrifice of fasting for spiritual freedom? Justice, sharing our wealth with the poor, feeding the hungry and freeing the oppressed are God's requirements for a true fast. Fasting means more than just giving up food. It means giving up some of our time and resources to do God's work in our world.

God placed righteousness in our hearts through Jesus Christ, and he wants that righteousness to show in our lives through godly obedience to him. In calling us to obey him, God calls on us  to fast in a way that will bring us back to God in humility, repentance and true faith, especially during Lent. If we do, we will grow closer to God. We have to be willing to obey his will. When we don't obey his will, we rebel against him.  

In addition, we are to work toward providing justice for the oppressed and mercy to the poor. As Anglicans, one way we can provide mercy to the poor is to support the work of the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, which many of us will do by attending the Lenten soup luncheons that will be put on by various groups and individuals within our parish. We can also help the poor by donating time, food or money to the local food bank. For example, lay readers in our Diocese are encouraged to become involved with issues related to social justice, and the way I fulfill that expectation is through my work as the volunteer Secretary-Treasurer for the Queens County Food Bank. In addition, I have been providing advice and help to an individual who is starting a food bank geared toward children in the Lockeport area.

By being focused on others, we avoid being focused on ourselves and our problems. For example, some people suggest that serving others is a good way to cope with depression. When we focus on others, not only will God will nourish us and give us strength to cope with our problems, but he will also give us a special place in his heart.

God's heart yearns to ease the plight on those who suffer. He wants to use us as his arms and legs to ease their misery. God directs us to ease their pain. God wants us to do the work not with what we don't have, but with what we do have. He wants us to use what he has given us to do his work in our world.

The fourth wise man fulfilled God's purpose for his life by reaching out and helping those people God put in his path, and in doing so he worshipped God. When we also respond faithfully to those people God puts before us. we will also fulfill part of God's purpose for our lives---and we will be worshiping God in a faith-filled manner.

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

      1.            Stanley, C.F., The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.; 2009)

      2.            Bayless Conley, "Rx for Depression". Retrieved from answsersweekly@answersrbc.org

      3.            Joni Eareckson Tada, "Answering Isaiah". Retrieved from communications@joniandfriends.org

      4.            Joni Eareckson Tada, "Bending Over Backward". Retrieved from communications@joniandfriends.org

      5.            Os Hillman, "Your Ministry to the Poor". Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

      6.            John Shearman's Lectionary Resource, 5th Sunday After Epiphany, Year B. Retrieved from www.lectionary.seemslikegod.org

      7.            Roland McGregor, "McGregorPage #75,Epiphany 5, 2/6/11". Retrieved from mcgregorpage@intenex.net

      8.            Robert H. Schuller, "The People Part of Purpose". Retrieved from positiveminute@hourofpower.cc

      9.            Neil Anderson, "Doing God's Work". Retrieved from Neil_Andersons_Daily_in_christ@crosswalkmail.com

  10.            Exegesis for Isaiah 58:1-12. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

  11.            George Young, "A Passion for Justice". Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net

  12.            Mark D. Roberts, "The Fasting God Desires". Retrieved from Newsletter@TheHighCalling.org

  13.            McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J., The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 18:Isaiah 40-6. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc,; 1994)

  14.            MacArthur, J., The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)